adminNEW YORK. — Steve Stricker and Zimbabwe’s Nick Price were named the respective captains of the United States and International golf teams in the 2017 Presidents Cup on Tuesday.
Price returns for his third stint at the helm of the International team. The three-time major winner received acclaim for his leadership in 2015 after leading a strong comeback bid against the Americans in Incheon, South Korea.
Price has also competed for the International team five times, captaining them twice and making his first appearance in 1994.
The Zimbabwean has 18 Tour victories as well as three major triumphs, including wins at the Open in 1994 and the PGA Championship in 1992 and 1994.
“It’s an honour for me to continue to serve as International Team captain once again in 2017,” said Price.
“The Presidents Cup has meant so much to me and to my career, both as a player and a captain, and I’m excited to have another chance to be a part of this great event.
“I am so looking forward to leading what I’m sure will be another very strong International Team and having another opportunity to win the Cup, after such a close finish last year.
“Steve will be a tremendous captain for the US Team in 2017, as he has always been a tenacious competitor and is respected by so many of us who play the game. I know he will be a tough opponent as well as a very popular captain.”
Stricker, a five-time member of the US team and a captain’s assistant in the victorious 2015 side, will captain the Americans for the first time while Price has already skippered the Internationals twice before.
The 2017 edition of the Ryder Cup-style tournament will take place at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey along the banks of the Hudson River, within sight of the Statue of Liberty.
“Steve Stricker and Nick Price are two of the most highly regarded players by their peers, and bring a wealth of experience to their respective teams for the 2017 Presidents Cup,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.
“While this is Stricker’s first year as a captain, he has been invaluable as a team member and has earned the respect of his contemporaries,” he added.
“His calm and collected personality will help guide his team at an amazing course in the one of the most beloved US cities the competition has visited to date.”
Stricker has also played on three US Ryder Cup teams and assisted captain Tom Watson in 2014, a role he will repeat with Davis Love III at this year’s tournament at Hazeltine. — AFP.
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